Centralised Custody Centres

Mr. Hendry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what efficiency savings have been achieved, broken down by police force area, through the introduction of centralised custody centres; [12035]

(2) which police forces have moved to a system of centralised custody centres; [12036]

(3) what the average waiting times at each custody centre for processing a case were for the latest month for which figures are available. [12033]

Mr. Denham:
This information is not collected centrally.

Police Establishment

Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers within the City of London there were (a) in May 1997 and (b) for the latest month for which figures are available. [12406]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 5 November 2001]: The City of London police had 859 police officers on 31 March 1997 and 705 police officers on 2 November 2001.

The force employed 347 civilian support staff in March 1997 and 223 in March 2001.

Identity Cards

Mr. George Osborne:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy on national identity cards is; and if he will make a statement. [12873]

Angela Eagle:
The Government have no plans to introduce a national identity card scheme as part of its response to the atrocities in the United States on 11 September.

However, the policy is kept under review and the Government are considering whether a universal card which allowed people to prove their identity more easily and provided a simple way to access a range of public services would be beneficial. Such an entitlement card scheme could also help to combat illegal working which disproportionately affects the poorer sections of our society by undercutting the minimum wage and

7 Nov 2001 : Column: 322W

encouraging unscrupulous employers. It could also reduce fraud against individuals, public services and the private sector.

The introduction of an entitlement card would be a major step and the Government would not proceed without consulting widely and considering all the views expressed very carefully.

Vandalism Costs

Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he collates on the annual cost of vandalism, broken down by local authority. [13103]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 6 November 2001]: In Home Office statistics, vandalism is categorised as criminal damage. We have estimates of the economic cost of criminal damage in England and Wales. However, we do not currently estimate the annual cost of criminal damage broken down by local authority.

The most recent figure of the cost of criminal damage was published in a report in December 2000, "The economic and social cost of crime" (Home Office Research Study 217). This estimated the total cost of criminal damage in England and Wales in 19992000 to be £4.1 billion. This represents 7 per cent. of the total economic cost of crime.

Private Security Firms

Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to local authorities on the case of private security firms; and if he will make a statement. [12910]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 6 November 2001]: We do not routinely issue guidance on this subject. There is, however, an extant piece of advice (Home Office Circular 60/1995) on the subject of local authority registration of door supervisors.

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 sets out the Government's current framework for the regulation of the private security industry in England and Wales. Consultations with local authorities will be essential with regard to those aspects of the Act relating to the licensing of door supervisors.

7 Nov 2001 : Column: 323W

Special Constables (Sussex)

Norman Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there were in (i) Sussex police and (ii) nationally in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999 and (e) 2000. [11805]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 6 November 2001]: The number of serving special constables in England and Wales and the number of specials serving in Sussex police from 30 September 1997 to 30 September 2000 are set out in the table:

Year

Total strength(9)

Strength in Sussex

1997

19,163

465

1998

17,296

415

1999

15,727

377

2000

13,487

317

(9) England and Wales

Note:

Figures provided by Research Statistics and Development

The Government are committed to increasing the special constabulary and we are looking at radical improvements in their management, welfare and deployment as part of the police reform process.

Asylum Support

Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are receiving (a) accommodation and subsistence support and (b) subsistence support only from the national asylum support service. [13053]

Angela Eagle:
As at the end of July 2001, the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in national asylum support service (NASS) accommodation was 28,810 1,2 . A further 18,520 1,2 asylum seekers (including dependants) were receiving voucher only support from NASS.

1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10.

2 Cases which have had their support ceased are excluded from these figures.

Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum-seekers and dependants have been dispersed to each of the NASS- designated dispersal areas since (a) 1 April 2001 and (b) 3 April 2000. [13054]

Angela Eagle:
The information is not currently available in the form requested.

The available information on dispersed asylum seekers is in the table. The table shows the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in the national asylum support service (NASS) accommodation in each cluster area as at the end of July 2001.

Number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in NASS accommodation by cluster area as at the end of July 2001(10),(11)

Region/area

Number

East Midlands

Derby

110

Leicester

640

Nottingham

880

Total

1,630

East of England

Ipswich

30

Peterborough

180

Total

200

Greater London

Disbenefited(12)

200

London

480

Total

680

North East

Darlington

30

Gateshead

530

Hartlepool

50

Middlesbrough

370

Newcastle

1,410

North Tyneside

340

Redcar and Cleveland

300

South Tyneside

130

Stockton-on-Tees

240

Sunderland

830

Total

4,240

North West

Blackburn

430

Bolton(13)

590

Burnley

130

Bury(13)

160

Disbenefited(12)

*

Liverpool

1,620

Manchester

1,880

Nelson

210

Oldham(13)

160

Rochdale(13)

230

Salford(13)

250

Stockport(13)

70

Tameside(13)

60

Trafford(13)

50

Wigan

360

Total

6,190

Northern Ireland

Belfast

40

Other

10

Total

50

Scotland

Glasgow

3,890

Total

3,890

South Central

Bournemouth

*

Brighton and Hove

40

Disbenefited(12)

40

Hastings and St. Leonards

210

Portsmouth

100

Total

390

South West

Bristol

130

Disbenefited(12)

10

Exeter

40

Plymouth

360

Total

540

Wales

Cardiff

330

Swansea

10

Wrexham

30

Total

370

West Midlands

Birmingham

1,980

Coventry

840

Disbenefited(12)

10

Dudley

160

Sandwell

120

Solihull

60

Stoke-on-Trent

340

Walsall

210

Wolverhampton

690

Total

4,410

Yorkshire and Humberside

Barnsley

160

Bradford

1,370

Disbenefited(12)

*

Doncaster

590

Grimsby

80

Halifax

220

Hull

960

Kirklees

390

Leeds

910

Rotherham

370

Sheffield

1,040

Wakefield

140

Total

6,230

Overall total

28,810

(10) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. * indicates a number between one and four. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

(11) Figures exclude cases where the asylum seekers support has been ceased.

(12) Disbenefited cases are cases which were previously supported by social services and after an initial decision on their asylum application have been transferred onto NASS support.